Opinion
CASE NO. 7:14CR00027 CASE NO. 7:16CV81162
08-26-2016
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, v. SHANNON MARIE WHITE, Defendant.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
Shannon Marie White, a federal inmate proceeding pro se, filed this motion to vacate, set aside or correct the sentence, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Upon review of the motion and court records, however, the court concludes that the § 2255 motion must be dismissed without prejudice, construed as a motion for reduction of sentence under 18 U.S.C. § 3582, and denied.
White pleaded guilty in this court to one count of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine. For this offense, on April 27, 2015, the court sentenced her to 48 months in prison. White did not appeal.
White has now filed a § 2255 motion, requesting a reduction in her sentence based on her minor role in the conspiracy. Specifically, she argues that she is entitled to a minor role reduction based on new guidelines declared in Amendment 794 to the advisory federal sentencing guidelines manual.
Amendment 794 amended § 3B1.2 of the United States Sentencing Guidelines ("USSG") and took effect on November 1, 2015. See id. at 521. This amendment issued after White's conviction became final in May 2015, when she failed to appeal the judgment. In general, the court is required to use the guidelines manual in effect on the date a defendant is sentenced. See Dorsey v. United States, ___U.S.___, 132 S.Ct. 2321, 2332 (2012); U.S.S.G. § 1B1.11(a) (requiring use of "the Guidelines Manual in effect on the date that the defendant is sentenced"). The United States Sentencing Commission did not make Amendment 794 retroactive to all cases. See USSG. § 1B1.10(d) (2015) (listing retroactive guideline amendments).
Although White asserts her motion under § 2255, she is not entitled to relief under this statute. She is not arguing that her sentence was illegal when imposed, that it was imposed in violation of United States law, or that any other defects cognizable under § 2255(a) are present in her case. See, e.g., Hamilton v. United States, 67 F.3d 761, 763 (9th Cir. 1995) (holding that § 2255 claim can be based only on a claim of lack of jurisdiction, constitutional error, an error resulting in "a complete miscarriage of justice," or "a proceeding inconsistent with the rudimentary demands of fair procedure") (quoting United States v. Timmreck, 441 U.S. 780, 783-84 (1979)). Instead, White is arguing to receive the retroactive benefit of an amendment that issued after she was sentenced. This type of claim must be brought as a motion under 18 U.S.C. § 3582, not as a § 2255 motion. Therefore, the court will summarily dismiss White's § 2255 motion without prejudice.
Because White is proceeding without counsel, the court liberally construes her submission as a motion seeking reduction under 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c). A district court generally may not modify a term of imprisonment once it has been imposed unless a defendant is eligible for a reduction under § 3582(c). United States v. Goodwyn, 596 F.3d 233, 235 (4th Cir. 2010). Section 3582(c)(2) allows for a reduction if the defendant's sentence was "based on a sentencing range that has subsequently been lowered by the Sentencing Commission," and "such reduction is consistent with the applicable policy statements issued by the Sentencing Commission." 18 U.S.C. § 3582(c)(2).
The "applicable policy statements" referenced in § 3582(c)(2) are those found in § 1B 1.10 of the Sentencing Guidelines. Dillon v. United States, 560 U.S. 817, 826 (2010). Pursuant to that provision, a sentence reduction under § 3582(c)(2) is authorized only when a retroactively applicable Guidelines amendment has "the effect of lowering the defendant's applicable guideline range." U.S.S.G. § 1B 1.10(a)(2)(B). Section 1B1.10 lists all Guidelines amendments that the Sentencing Commission has made retroactively applicable to defendants on collateral review, rather than direct appeal, and Amendment 794 is not listed in § 1B1.10 as retroactively applicable. Because Amendment 794 is thus not retroactively applicable, White's request for a reduction under § 3582(c)(2) pursuant to this amendment has no legal validity and must be denied. A separate order will be entered this day.
The Clerk is directed to send copies of this memorandum opinion and accompanying order to defendant.
ENTER: This 26th day of August, 2016.
/s/_________
Chief United States District Judge